Frame structure for foldable closures



Nov. 6, 1962 E. w. MERRILL FRAME STRUCTURE FOR FOLDABLE CLOSURES Filed July 29, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet l m m m m fiwmeii' WM Y WMvQ/udw Nov. 6, 1962 B. w. MERRILL 3,062,277

FRAME STRUCTURE FOR FOLDABLE CLOSURES Filed July 29, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Nov. 6, 1962 B. w. MERRILL FRAME STRUCTURE FOR FOLDABLE CLOSURE-S 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 29, 1959 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Office 3,052,277. Patented Nov. 6, 1962 Castle Products, Inc., New Castle, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed July 29, 1959, Ser. No. 830,397 3 Claims. (Cl. 160-84) The present invention is directed to new and improved frame structures for foldable closures as well as the new and improved closures which result from the incorporation therein of the frame structures. More specifically, the invention is directed to the utilization of conventional forms of frame strucure elements in a new and improved interrelation in the forming of a foldable frame structure for use in the assembly of a foldable closure, the arrangement of elements providing for novel utilization of the individual strength of such elements to provide for an improved combined strength thereof by utilization of a truss suspension arrangement.

The use of foldable closures for the purpose of enclosing or sub-dividing room areas is now widespread. Continuing developmental work is being conducted by the manufacturers of such closures to improve the same, particularly in connection with resistance to adverse en vironmental conditions and increased sound insulation. The flexible cover members now being used are subjected to a number of different treatments to, for example, retain adequate flexibility under wide temperature variations, exhibit increased resistance to moisture, etc. The cover members are generally increasing rather substantially in total weight as a result of these various treatments. Additionally, sound insulation liners have been added to the closures to improve the sound insulating properties thereof and these liners also materially add to the over-all weight which must be carried by the skeletal frame structure of the closure.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved skeletal frame structure for folding closures, the frame structure utilizing a novel arrangement of elements to provide for improved strength Without increasing the over-all weight of the frame structure to a noticeable extent, and further without materially increasing the cost thereof as by the utilization of an increased amount of material in forming the same.

A further object is to provide a new and improved skeletal frame structure of the accordion-foldable, lazy tongs type making use of conventional forms of hingedly interconnected hinge plates in a new and improved truss suspension cooperative arrangement to, in effect, increase the effective strength of individual series or rows of interconuected hinge plates to accommodate the increased weight of a foldable closure imparted thereto by the attachment of improved forms of cover members and sound insulation liners.

A further object is to provide a new and improved foldable closure utilizing therein the frame structure of the present invention, this frame structure adding materially to the over-all strength of the closure without noticeably increasing the total Weight thereof.

Other objects not specifically set forth Will become apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention made in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a foldable closure having as a part thereof one form of skeletal frame structure of the present invention, the closure having portions thereof progressively broken away to better illustrate the structural aspects of the same;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the foldable closure of FIG. 1 illustrating the same in fully contracted or folded condition;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevation of a truss suspension linkage forming a part of the frame structure of the closure of FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective of a modified form of frame structure which utilizes the basic principles of the present invention.

One form of the new and improved foldable closure of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. With particular reference to FIG. 1, the skeletal structural frame of the foldable closure includes a lead post 10 having a trolley assembly 11 suitably connected to the top end thereof with the opposite end of the frame structure being defined by a back post 12 designated for fixed attachment in a door frame or the like. Both the lead post 10* and back post 12 have suitably attached thereto hinge connection ears 13 which are arranged in pairs and which receive therethrough hinge pins 14 which operatively connect the opposite ends of a plurality of rows of interconnected hinge plates to the lead post 10 and the back post 12. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the foldable closure is provided with at least three rows 15, 16 and 17 of interconnected hinge plates, it being understood that any desired number of rows may be used as long as the top two rows, 15 and 16, are operatively interconnected in the manner to be described.

As particularly shown in FIG. 2 in connection with the top row 15 of hinge plates, each row is formed from a plurality of interconnected and centrally crisscrossing full hinge plates 18 and half hinge plates 19 at opposite ends which hingedly interconnect each row with the lead post 10 and back post 12 through means of the hinge pins 14 and brackets 13. Each full hinge plate 18 is generally formed with enlarged opposite end plate sections interconnected by a narrower intermediate central portion provided with radially directed flanges 20 along the edges thereof. The full hinge plates 18 and half hinge plates 19 are of known design and are identical in construction with each crisscrossing pair of full hinge plates 18 being formed from one hinge plate being inverted and placed across the other. As best illustrated in FIG. 2. the flanges 20 in their superimposed positions are apertured to receive therethrough a hinge pin 21 or a trolley mounting hinge pin 22. The hinge connections defined constitute centrally located single hinge connections which are alternately positioned longitudinally of the closure relative to opposite paired hinge connections defined by rods 23 which interconnect the outermost ends of adjacent hinge plates 18. With the arrangement described, each row, 15, 16 and 17, of hinge plates 18 and 19, pins 14, 21 and 22, and rods 23 defines a lazy tongs structure of known type which is readily foldable and unfoldable during operation of the door closure. The upper end of the pin 22 has suitably attached thereto a trolley assembly 24 which cooperates with the trolley assembly 11 of the lead post 10 in supporting the closure from an overhead track (not shown) mounted in a door frame. The door closure is illustrated in FIG. 1 in its extended condition whereas FIG. 2 illustrates the same in its fully contracted condition.

In completing the closure structure, separate foldable sound insulation liners 25 are suitably attached on each side of the closure by means of clips 26 to the hinge plates 13 and 19 with the clips being received through holes 27 therein. The sound insulation liners 25 may be of any suitable type with the weight thereof being supported by the trolley assemblies 11 and 24 as Well as by the various rows 15, 16 and 17 of interconnected hinge plates. Flexible cover members 28 are mounted along each side of the closure over the sound insulation liners and for mounting purposes the cover members 8 are provided with any desired number of webs 29 through which are suitably received the clips 26 for attachment through the sound insulation liner to the hinge plates 18 and 19. The webs 29 extend longitudinally along the inner surfaces of the cover members 28 and each has one edge portion sewn or otherwise attached to the cover members with the opposite edge portion being free for ready attachment to the frame structure.

The total weight of the two sets of sound insulation liners and cover members can be and is often appreciable. For good sound insulation properties, the liner is often formed from material having a high density. The cover members are often treated with several coatings of different types of material to impart thereto adequate properties to prevent deterioration and maintain efficient operation under widely variable conditions. It can be seen that the total weight of the components of the folda-ble closure is supported by the trolley assemblies and distributed throughout the skeletal frame structure with the hinge plate rows receiving substantial loads particularly in the fully expanded condition of the closure. To prevent sagging of portions of the closure between the trolley assemblies, the skeletal frame structure must have adequate strength in and of itself. The strength requirement increases on expansion operation of the closure and it has been found that conventional arrangements of intercon-- nected rows of hinge plates have been incapable of preventing sagging or other undesirable eflects where sound insulation liners and cover members of appreciable weight have been aflixed thereto. The usual vertical spacing of the rows of interconnected hinge plates involves virtual equidistant spacing thus making use of a top row, middle row and bottom row. With equidistant spacing, the cover members are adequately attached throughout their extensive areas for eflicient flexible movement with the frame structure thus preventing ballooning and other undesirable effects. To this date, vertical relative location of the rows of interconnected hinge plates has been determined solely on the basis of providing adequately spaced attachment for the cover members to the closure. The strength of the individual rows of hinge plates necessary to support the cover members and liners where used has been controlled solely by varying the gauge or size of the hinge plates.

In order to avoid increasing the size or gauge of the individual hinge plates and thereby materially increasing the overall weight of the closure as well as the cost thereof, it has been found that by suitable interrelation of the top two rows 15 and 16 of interconnected hinge plates a new and improved truss suspension arrangement is provided. In bringing this about, the rows 15 and 16 of hinge plates are mounted in closely spaced relation at the top of the frame structure, the distance between the rows being between about one to two inches. Alternate hinge plates 18 are fixed to the rods 23 by welds 31 at the tops of the hinge plates with the intermediate alternate hinge plates being fixed to the rods 23 by welds 32 at the bottoms thereof. Thus, the rods 23 along one side of the closure as shown in FIG. 1 have the ends of alternate hinge plates fixed thereto by welds 31 placed at the top of the plates whereas on the opposite side of the closure the remaining hinge plates are fixed to the rods 23 'at the bottoms thereof. With this arrangement the rows 15 and 16 are fixed against vertical movement relative to the rods 23 while permitting adequate pivoting at the hinge connections to provide for efficient operation of the closure. Similarly, the bottom row 17 is also suitably fixed to the rods 23 by use of welds 31 and 32.

The truss suspension arrangement of the present invention involves the load transmission interconnection of the centrally located single hinge connections defined by the pins 21 and 22. Between the rows 15 and 16, the pins 21 and 22 carry sleeve-like load transmission elements or spacers 33. This arrangement is particularly shown in FIG. 3 wherein it will be noted that the spacer 33 is 4 provided at the top and bottom margins thereof with radially directed annular flanges 34 which are maintained in abutting engagement with juxtaposed flanges 20 of the hinge plates of the rows 15 and 16. The upper end of the pin 21 is provided with an enlarged head 35 and the bottom end of the pin projects below the bottom surface of the hinge plate 18 in the row 16 and is provided with a washer 36 which is locked in place by any suitable means such 'as crimps 37 formed in the pin 21 following operative insertion thereof through the hinge plates. The crimps 37 in combination with the enlarged pin head 35 tightly interconnect the hinge plate rows 15 and 16 in truss suspension relation, the spacer element 33 maintaining proper operative distance between the rows and further providing for eflicient load transmission therebetween.

An expansion limiting chain 38 extends between the pins 14, 21 and 22 with links thereof received about the ends of the pins and held in place between speed nuts 39 on pins 14 and 21 and between standard types of threaded nuts 40 which are threadedly received on the pin 22. With respect to the pin 22 the upper end of which having attached thereto the trolley assembly 24, it is necessary merely to provide the bottom end of the pin with a washer 41 held in place by the innermost nut 40. In other words, the main part of the load in this portion of the closure is carried by the trolley assembly 24 but a spacer element 33 is still mounted between the hinge plate rows 15 and 16 on the rod 22 to maintain proper spacing and will still function to a degree to efliciently transmit loads between the two rows. However, the main truss suspension load transmission functioning must occur at the critical points which involve the pins 21 which are not supported by trolley assemblies attached thereto.

The placing of heavy loads on the hinge plate rows 15 and 16 results in transmission and distribution of the total load throughout the hinge plates of both of these rows by reason of the truss suspension arrangements described. The hinge plate rows 15 and 16 are interlocked in truss suspension arrangement to distribute between the rows the load of the closure cover members and sound ininsulation liners. The interlocking of closely spaced hinge plate rows as described permits continued use of standard hinge plates with increased cover member and sound insulation liner loads. The individual hinge plates will not buckle, fold or sag as a result of a substantial increase in load applied thereto as the hinge plates of each row are bolstered in strength by reason of the truss suspension interconnection. Thus, it is unnecessary to increase the size or gauge of the individual hinge plates 18 and 19 in order to accommodate substantial increases in applied load.

Flat 1% inch hinge plates of known type have been subjected to load tests with the result that they deflect inch at pounds tension. A flat 2 inch plate of similar design exhibits a inch deflection at l35 pounds tension. A 2 inch channel-type plate of the design shown in FIGS. 1-3 deflects V inch at pounds load. Two 2 inch channel-type plates combined in truss arrangement as described above exhibit inch deflection at 400 pounds load. This maximum load at inch deflection equals the deflection of a 4 inch plate of heavier design under the same load. However, the real advantage is that deflection cannot be detected under loads up to 100 pounds, and deflections of approximately 50% less are noted in the range up to 250 pounds load when compared with the heavier 4 inch plate design. Comparable and even materially improved results have been obtained in connection with torsion tests and beam tests as distinguished from the vertical load test results set forth. Accordingly, the truss suspension arrangement is not only materially efiective in connection with vertical load improvement but also imparts added strength and stability to the frame structure with regard to torsional and beam load application.

FIG. 4 illustrates a modified from of truss suspension arrangement incorporating the principles of the present invention and making use of a diiferent design of hinge plate. The structural frame 45 illustrated includes two closely spaced, virtually edge-abutting rows of hinge plates hingedly interconnected by rods 46 and truss suspension pins 47. The full hinge plates 48 are generally rectangular as Well as the half hinge plates 49 which are suitably hingedly connected to a lead post 50 by pins 51. With the exception of the differences to be described, the frame structure of FIG. 4 includes the same elements as escribed in connection with FIGS. 1-3, such as the trolley assemblies 52 and 53, the chain 54, etc. The truss arrangement provided by the pin 47 which is not supported by a trolley assembly resides in the pin interconnecting the hinge plates of the closely associated rows. A washer 55 and speed nuts 56 clamp the superimposed hinge plates together in truss connection. The plates are suitably welded to the rods 46 in the manner previously described with alternate top and bottom welds 57 and 58, respectively, being used. The pins 47 tie the hinge plates together at the critical load points to provide for efficient transmission and sharing of the load applied to the plates of the two separate rows.

By way of example of the increased strength of the frame structure of KG. 4-, load tests of single rows of plates 48 indicate a inch deflection yield point at 400 pounds tension. With the interconnecting truss arrangement illustrated in FIG. 4, the rows do not exhibit the yield point of inch deflection until 850 pounds tension are applied thereto.

With the truss suspension arrangement of the present invention it is unnecessary to increase the total number of rows of interconnected hinge plates over and above the number normally used in commercial foldable closures. The inventive concept involves a close spacing and truss interconnection of two closely positioned top rows at the top portion of the frame structure with the remaining single row or any number of rows as preferred, being retained completely separate and functioning primarily to hold the sound insulation liners and cover members in proper position throughout the entire side areas of the closure.

Obviously certain modifications and variations of the invention as hereinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore only such limitations should be imposed as are indicated in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a skeletal frame structure for folding closures wherein a plurality of horizontally acting and vertically spaced rows of pivotally interconnected and crisscrossing hinge plates extend between vertical end posts, and the pivotal interconnection of the crisscrossing hinge plates of each row includes vertical rods interconnecting the outer ends of adjacent hinge plates and vertical pins pivotally interconnecting the crisscrossing hinge plates in their area of intersection, said rods extending substantially the full height of said structure and co-operating with said end posts to operatively interconnect said rows, the improvement which comprises vertically interlocking the two top rows of said hinge plates by the use of single pins which are common to both of said two top rows and which form the pivotal interconnection for both of said rows in the areas of intersection of the crisscrossing hinge plates thereof, said two top rows being closely interlocked with one another adjacent the top of said structure, with the hinge plates of both rows fixed on said rods against vertical movement, said single pins vertically interlocking the hinge plates of said two top rows to distribute between said two top rows the load of closure cover members adapted to be attached to the hinge plates thereof.

2. In a skeletal frame structure for folding closures wherein a plurality of horizontally acting and vertically spaced rows of pivotally interconnected and criss-crossing hinge plates extend between vertical end posts, and the pivotal interconnection of the crisscrossing hinge plates of each row includes vertical rods interconnecting the outer ends of adjacent hinge plates and vertical pins pivotally interconnecting the crisscrossing hinge plates in their area of intersection, said rods extending substantially the full height of said structure and co-operating with said end posts to operatively interconnect said rows, the improvement which comprises vertically interlocking the two top rows of said hinge plates by the use of single pins which are common to both of said two top rows and which form the pivotal interconnection for both of said rows in the areas of intersection of the crisscrossing hinge plates thereof, said two top rows being closely interlocked with one another adjacent the top of said structure, with the hinge plates of both rows fixed on said rods against vertical movement, said single pins vertically interlocking the hinge plates of said two top rows to distribute between said two top rows the load of closure cover members adapted to be attached to the hinge plates thereof, and means on said single pins and engaging said hinge plates of said two top rows to fix the same against vertical movement on said single pins.

3. The frame structure of claim 2 wherein said means fixing said hinge plates against said vertical movement on said single pins include spacer means on said pins between said two top rows of binge plates and in hinge plate spacing abutment with the hinge plates of said two top rows.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,512,736 Brenner et al June 27, 1950 2,903,055 Merrill Sept. 8, 1959 

